Forest Ecology & Management - Texas Master...
Transcript of Forest Ecology & Management - Texas Master...
Forest Ecology & Management
Texas Master Naturalist Program
Texas Forest Service
Mission Statement: To provide statewide
leadership to assure the state’s trees,
forests, and related natural resources are
protected and sustained for the benefit of
all.
What does TFS do?
Wildland Firefighting, Oak Wilt Technical
Assistance, Forest Stewardship, Urban
Forestry, Seedling Nurseries,
Environmental/Public Education, whatever
our boss asks us to do…
Texas Forest Service Partnerships
US Forest Service
NRCS
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
Texas Parks and Wildlife
LBJ Wildflower Center
ISA Texas
Many more that I can‟t remember…
So, what is forestry?
This is what many people think of traditional
forestry…
Forestry
The science, art, and practice of creating,
managing, using, and conserving forests in
a sustainable manner to meet the desired
goals, needs, and values.
(as defined in the SAF Forestry Career brochure)
I. Forest Ecology
II. Forest Management
III. Forest Issues
IV. Diagnosing Oak Wilt
Forest Ecology
Diversity
Forest Communities
Succession
Disturbance
Diversity: What, Where, & How Many?
Anywhere from 220 to 300 tree species in
Texas (~40% of all US species)
~500 species of grasses (most in US)
Wildlife in Texas
~540 bird species (75% of all US species)
78 species of mammals (TPWD Fact Sheets)
17 National Wildlife Refuges (470,000 acres)
Diversity
Trees cover ?????% of Texas
60 million acres of forests & woodlands
12 million acres of forest just in E. Texas
Who owns the forests?
Of the 12 million acres of forest in E. Texas, 63% are privately owned (NIPF), 29%-industry/investment, 8%- public
USDA Forest Service- 750,000 acres of National Forest & Grasslands in TX
Forest Changes
How have Texas forests changed?
East Texas has gained almost 2 million acres
of forest since 1935
Since 1992, NE Texas gained 270,000 acres
of forest (reverted pasture)
Since 1992, SE Texas lost 159,000 acres of
forest (urban sprawl)
Forest Communities
“The forest is a dynamic,
complex, and constantly
changing ecosystem.” -TX
Master Naturalist Curriculum
“Forests are the „lungs‟ of our
land, purifying the air and
giving fresh strength to our
people.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt
Communities or Eco-regions
“Ecotypes” or natural regions
Climate (hardiness), precipitation, soils
(texture, nutrients, pH), elevation, slope,
aspect, etc.
USDA Plant Temperature
(Hardiness) Zones
Annual Minimum
Temperature
Average Annual
Precipitation
Elevation
Texas Rivers
• 11,247 named
streams (USGS)
• 15 major rivers
• Over 100,000
miles in total length
Rio Grande
Red River
Brazos
Colorado
Sabine
Neches
Trinity
Major Forest
Regions of
Texas
• Pineywoods
• Post Oak
Savannah
• Live Oak-
Juniper
• Cross Timbers
• Mountain
Forests
Forests of Texas
Oak-Pine & Bottomland Hardwood Forest Types of North America
Upland Forest Types
Both mesic & xeric sites
E. Texas‟ Pineywoods, Central Texas‟ Live Oak/Juniper woodlands, & Post Oak savannah
Guadalupe & Chisos Mountains
Bottom land Forests
Mesic creeks, river bottoms, & swamps
Big Thicket Preserve
Neches River bottom
East Texas Upland Forests Trees
Oaks
Post, Blackjack, Southern Red, Water, & Black Oak
Pines
Longleaf Pine (South), Shortleaf Pine (North), Loblolly Pine
Other Hardwoods
Black Hickory, Elm, Sweetgum, Sassafras, Red Mulberry
Shrubs
Yaupon Holly, Sparkleberry, Winged Sumac, Wax Myrtle
Vines
Greenbrier, Muscadine Grape, Virginia Creeper, Cross Vine
East Texas Bottomland Forests
Trees Oaks
White, Swamp Chestnut, Cherry Bark, Willow, Water, & Overcup Oak
Other Hardwoods American Hornbeam, Red
Maple, Blackgum, Green Ash, River Birch
Baldcypress, Water Tupelo, Water Elm, Swamp Privet
Shrubs PawPaw, Buttonbush,
Possumhaw Holly, Privet
Vines Supplejack, Peppervine,
Honeysuckle
Other Texas Forests
Pecan-Elm Forest
(Brazoria County)
Ponderosa Pine-
Douglas Fir
Park/Forest
(Culberson County)
Live Oak-Mesquite-
Ashe Juniper Parks
(Llano County)
Forest Succession
Succession is the vegetative change in community composition and structure through time.
Stages of succession
Disturbance (Land cleared of vegetation)
Primary (The first plants show up)
Secondary (Trees start to dominate)
Climax (Vegetative restructuring levels off)
Forest Disturbance
Ice storms, tornados, inclement weather
Southeast Texas hurricane damage, September 2005
Insects, disease, & invasive plants
Wildfire
Humans
Hurricane Rita vs. The Forest
17 East & Southeast Texas counties
impacted
771,000 acres of timber damaged/affected
$462 million of standing timber damaged
• Increased chance of
insects & disease
• Salvage
• Reforestation
Southern Pine Beetle Infestation
Oak Wilt
Fire And The Forest
Natural fire regimes (lightning & humans)
Fire scars on trees
Fire evidence in forest floor
Influence of fire on ecosystems
Frequency & intensity of fire may determine the characteristics of a forest
Stages of succession
Wildlife
Insects & Disease
Fire and Man Meet
Some Texas Invasive Species
Chinaberry
Chinese Tallow
Soapberry Borer
Asian Dodder
Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum)
“An Invasive Species Analysis”
Established in Texas early 1900‟s as potential crop for soap
Fast seed producer & adaptable to various soil types
Out-competes native plant types
Represents almost 25% of total tree cover in Houston area*
80% of total tree cover in SW Houston area (Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, & Galveston Co.) Hwy 288 Ag/Range lands*
*From “Houston‟s Regional Forest”. USFS, TFS. September 2005
Humans
Urban Sprawl / Land Fragmentation
Clearing forest for cropland
Clearing forest for ranching
Forest Management
Environmental Schools of Thought
Preservation: Involves “hands-off”
management, very restrictive, intends to
keep land basically untouched (i.e.
wilderness areas). “Let nature takes it‟s
course”.
Conservation: Involves science-based
management, and theory of multiple-use
sustained yield (USFS).
Wilderness Areas in Texas
Forest Management
Forest Managers
Service Forester
Forest Entomologist
Forestry Consultant
Timber Buyer
Industry Forester
Procurement Forester
Forest Pathologist
Urban Forester
Reasons for Forest Management
Recreation
Aesthetics
Wildlife / Hunting
Ranching
Timber production
Reforestation
Natural Regeneration
Natural seeding (seed
tree)
Artificial Regeneration
Hand planting
Machine planting
Forestry Tools
Diameter tape
Loggers tape
Biltmore stick
Compass
Clinometer
Increment borer
Forestry & Technology
• GIS & GPS
• Laser-based tools
• Chemical advancements
• Genetics
Forest Issues
Forest Benefits & Facts
What issues lie ahead?
Keeping Forests as Forests!
Wildland–Urban Interface
Ethanol Production
Carbon sequestration
Forest industry issues
Urban Forestry/conservation development
Diagnosing Oak Wilt
Diagnosis – 5 step process
Pattern of mortality
Pattern in individual trees
Foliar symptoms
Presence of red oak fungal mat
Taking samples
1. Pattern of Mortality
Red Oak CenterLive Oak Center
1. Pattern of Mortality
2. Pattern in individual TreesDiseased Red OakDiseased Live Oak
3. Foliar symptoms
Red Oak SymptomsLive Oak Symptoms
4. Presence of Fungal Mat
5. Taking Samples
Bole and branch
samples.
Confirm presence of
pathogen
Works Cited:
Society of American Foresters website.
Texas Forest Service, Texas A & M University System. Texas Forests
Today. February, 2005.
The Dallas Morning News. Texas Almanac 2004-2005. 62 ed.
Benny Simpson. A Field Guide to Texas Trees. 1999.
Texas Parks and Wildlife. Maps of Texas.
US Forest Service, Texas Forest Service. Houston‟s Regional Forest.
September, 2005.
Texas Forest Service
Rob Grotty
(512) 339-7807
txforestservice.tamu.edu
www.texasoakwilt.org
texastreeplanting.tamu.edu